Authorities: Smuggling ring in Arizona busted

A federal joint task force and Tohono O'odham police said they have broken up a major drug and human trafficking ring in southern Arizona with the arrests of 12 people and indictments issued for four others.

A Tohono O'odham police news release said the ring allegedly smuggled more than 1,300 pounds of marijuana and 120 people every month through the Tohono O'odham Nation to Tucson.

The two-month investigation also revealed that the primary defendant, Pauline Grijalva, laundered about $350,000 during the three years before the investigation.

The task force seized 167 pounds of marijuana, eight vehicles, two all-terrain vehicles and $17,000 in cash after three search warrants were served.

Eight of the suspects are U.S. citizens and the other four are from Mexico, according to the release.